Jaffer Zaidi, Google’s VP of Global News Partnerships, explained the collaboration as a step toward enhancing the utility of Gemini’s results.
In a blog post, he stated, “As we develop new AI offerings, we’re identifying specific types of information that can improve our products for people everywhere. This [real-time feed] will be particularly helpful to users seeking up-to-date information.”
While no timeline has been provided for the feature’s rollout or its global availability, the move highlights Google’s ongoing efforts to refine its AI products through strategic partnerships.
The collaboration is also part of a trend where AI companies partner with news organizations to improve data accuracy and reduce legal risks. For example, OpenAI has agreements with publishers like the Financial Times and News Corp., while Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine, allows publishers to earn revenue when their content is referenced.
Many such agreements also permit AI companies to train their models on publishers’ archives. While these partnerships are often pitched as a boon to journalism, they serve the dual purpose of shielding AI developers from copyright infringement claims.
But the tech isn’t without its flaws. A Columbia University study found that OpenAI’s ChatGPT sometimes misquotes even licensed content, raising questions about the effectiveness of these collaborations.
Still, the precarious state of the news industry may encourage more outlets to pursue agreements with AI companies in pursuit of new revenue streams.